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LOS ANGELES — Dogs have more to look for under the tree this Christmas than cats do — 56 percent of dog owners say they will buy their pets a gift this Christmas, but only 48 percent of cat owners plan a gift.

A majority of all pet owners — 53 percent — said in an Associated Press-Petside.com poll that they plan to get their animals a present this holiday season.

Debbye Meszaros’s two dogs, Sasha and Sophie, will be getting rawhide bones; the family hamster, Star, gets a bigger wheel; and Princess, the guinea pig, gets new bedding.

“There will also be something under the tree from the animals to the kids, too,’’ said Meszaros, 40, of Olney, Md.

Last year, when her husband was stationed in Italy with the Navy, the family managed to find edible rawhide greeting cards to give other dogs in the neighborhood.

The AP-Petside.com poll, conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications, also showed that women (56 percent) are somewhat more likely than men (49 percent) to buy their animals a gift.

The number of pet owners planning to buy presents for their animals this year is nearly the same as last year.